Plays and Players
Also known as: Playhouse, The
Why it's listed
Built on Delancey Street in Philadelphia with a frontage of about 48 feet and a depth of 92 feet, the three-story steel, brick and granite building was designed by Amos W. Barnes and erected by Frederick A. Havens & Co. Its front is faced in rough brown tapestry brick, with a single band of bas-relief figures brightened by colored tile. Inside, the auditorium has a balcony and seats 324, arranged so that every seat has a close view of the stage, and the orchestra sits in an unobtrusive pit. Wall decorations were executed by the artist Edith Emerson. The cornerstone, described by the actor Edward Everett Horton, is the keystone of the proscenium arch and contains theater memorabilia. Originally a dramatic school, the building soon became a pre-Broadway tryout theater for actors including John Drew, the Barrymores, Maude Adams and Otis Skinner. The Plays and Players amateur group, founded in 1911, bought the building in 1922.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is significant for its role in Philadelphia theater history, as a pre-Broadway tryout theater that hosted prominent actors, and as the home of an amateur theater group founded in 1911 that claims to be the oldest continuously operating little theater group in the country. The interior is described as well designed for sightlines and acoustics.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 73001665, listed March 14, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1714 Delancey St., Philadelphia |
|---|---|
| County | Philadelphia |
| Listed | March 14, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73001665 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1911-1912 |
| Architect / builder | Amos W. Barnes (architect); Frederick A. Havens & Co. (contractor) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Performing Arts |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Building is used by the Plays and Players group for productions and is leased to other groups when not in use. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Washington Square West Historic District |
| Coordinates | 39.94694, -75.17029 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 73001665.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15267013
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.